Property tax hike was needed: Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Defending the hike in property tax in Bengaluru, which has drawn much flak from the opposition and people alike, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday insisted the increased revenue was necessary to fund its infrastructure development.

Inaugurating a flyover in Rajajinagar Block I, Mr Siddaramaiah pointed out that  the zonal revision for property tax had been put on hold on the advice of Bengaluru-in-charge minister, K.J George and mayor Manjunath Reddy, who felt that people were being overburdened. "However, to develop the city with a  population of over a crore, we need more revenue,” he contended.

While the BBMP had presented a budget for Rs 8,000 crore,  it was collecting only Rs 1,900 crore in revenue, he pointed out. “How can you generate an additional Rs 6,000 crore without such moves? Basic infrastructure problems like traffic congestion, lack of drinking water have to be dealt with and we need more revenue for this,” he maintained.

He also referred to the garbage crisis in the city, saying he was dismayed at its mismanagement. “Despite setting up seven new plants and processing 2,200 tonnes of garbage, we have not been able to find a permanent solution to disposing waste,” he agreed.

AAP faults both BJP and Congress
Meanwhile, accusing BJP of shedding crocodile tears on the property tax hike, state convener  of the Aam Aadmi Party,  Prithvi Reddy claimed the previous  BBMP Council, which it headed, was responsible for the present mess.

The Congress too was using a ‘scare and pacify’ tactic to raise property tax, he charged, demanding that the BBMP should publish a white paper on property tax defaulters and ensure that the  dues are collected within a month.

 BJP withdraws protests

 BJP corporators, who had created a ruckus over the increase in property tax in the BBMP council, withdrew their protest Saturday morning. Later, addressing a press conference, opposition  leader , Padmanabha Reddy demanded mayor Manjunath Reddy’s resignation  for calling the BJP and other corporators  “third grade politicians.”

“When he belongs to a party led by a woman , how can he insult women corporators who protested in the Council? He should apologize and resign as the mayor,” he demanded.